Course Descriptions

Course Descriptions - PhilosophyPHI141 Survey of Major Western Philosophers (3-0-3)

This course provides an introductory survey of the major trends and developments in Western philosophical thought- particularly in metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, theology, aesthetics, and political philosophy-from the ancient Greeks to the 20th century. By adopting a historical perspective, the course traces that development through the contributions of major representative thinkers and movements. The course encourages students to examine their own philosophical positions or beliefs.

PHI143 Introduction to Philosophical Problems (3-0-3)

Focusing on issues in epistemology, ontology, philosophy of religion, philosophy of freedom, ethics, political and social philosophy, and philosophy of art, this course introduces students to important questions that have preoccupied Western philosophers and to representative attempts by those philosophers to answer those questions. The course will also consider significant contributions to
the discussion of those questions by experts from other fields, such as physics and biology. The course encourages students to examine their own philosophical position or beliefs.